Meaning in CdM triumph

COSTA MESA — A special meaning was at the forefront of a nonleague boys' volleyball match Tuesday, between Corona del Mar High and Edison at Orange Coast College.

While the Sea Kings defeated the Chargers in three straight sets, 25-17, 25-9, 25-13, the match took a backseat to what the boys were playing for.

McKenna Claire Wetzel died on June 21, 2011, just two days shy of her eighth birthday. On Jan. 21, 2011, Wetzel was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), which is a tumor located on the middle of the bottom portion of the brain stem.

She was the daughter of 1985 Edison graduate Dave Wetzel, a UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball player and current team leader at AutoNation Direct, and former Edison swimmer Kristine Wetzel, currently a teacher at Hillview High in Tustin, and the younger sister of 13-year-old Jordan Wetzel.

The goal Tuesday was to raise $2,000, with all proceeds going to the McKenna Claire Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer (http://mckennaclairefoundation.org). The foundation, co-founded by the Wetzels in October, has raised nearly $90,000, with $60,000 that the Wetzels raised going toward the foundation. The Wetzels also donated the tumor found in McKenna's brain to Dr. Michelle Montje, a pediatric neuro-oncologist at Stanford University.

"She was a magical little girl," Dave Wetzel said. "She was that kid that made everyone smile. She was at peace with herself, even when she got sick. She was a truly energetic and magnetic kid.. We practically became doctors within a week of her diagnosis. Your choices are quality, not quantity. It's a pretty daunting task for a parent."

There was a giant photo of McKenna Wetzel, who is the granddaughter of longtime Estancia High Vice Principal and coach Bill Wetzel, Dave's father, and the grandniece of Orange Coast College Hall of Fame men's volleyball head coach Bob Wetzel, Dave's uncle, who coached the Pirates for 11 seasons in the 1970s and 1980s.

"She was the most energetic bundle of energy and seemingly a perfectly healthy girl," Kristine Wetzel said. "Until she was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was a big-time athlete, a soccer player and a volleyball player. She would have had a blast [Tuesday]. She was very outgoing, loved crowds."

There is also a "Party with a Purpose" to be held on May 19 at the Huntington Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, with food, live entertainment and a silent auction.

After the second set, both the Wetzels said a few words, thanking Corona del Mar head coach Steve Conti and Edison head coach Brian Boone, along with everyone who attended. The foundation was started in part to prevent another family from going through the pain that they went through.

"She was definitely fun to hang out with," Jordan Wetzel said. "She liked to stay active, she liked to play around."

As for the match, Sea King outside hitters Remy Lamons and Parker Brown both had seven kills. Jack Reed had five kills and two blocks for CdM (4-3).

"What makes it so special is we get to do something for someone in our community," Conti said. "It teaches our kids how giving to someone can help them out."

Junior Nicholas Niemic led the Chargers (1-10) with five kills.

"She was a wonderful girl," Boone said. "You couldn't help but notice her. It's a tough blow for the family."